Device and method for opening clogged pipes and the like



July 14, 1936. R. c. GANNON 2,047,182

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPENING CLOGGED PIPES AND THE LIKE Filed April 19,1955 r 7 .o M M m E m dui anual/Ufo@ Patented `luly 14, 1936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPENING CLOGGED PIPES AND THELIKE 12 claims.

This invention relates to an improved device and method for openingclogged pipes and clearing obstructions therefrom. More particularly,the invention is principally designed for use in opening and clearingobstructed plumbing systems commonly used to direct sewage and otherwaste matter from household xtures and the like, to the main sewer line.The clearing of such obstructions is known in the plumbing parlance asbreaking the seal of a trap.

Various ways and means of freeing or clearing stoppages in the sewerlateral have been employed, but for the most part, they are attended byconsiderable expense. One of the most common expe-dients employed in thecase of stoppage is to apply a high pressure to the lateral as byconnecting a hose to` a high pressure water main and extending the hoseinto the basement trap or into the vent pipe to Vflush or blow out theobstruction. If the stoppage is not too severe, this may be effective,but in the c-ase of a severe stoppage, obviously, the high'pressure willmerely pack or wedge the obstruction more firmly in the pipe, and theflushing water will back up and overflow into the basement, or evenhigher up in the building where the xtures are located. Reaming toolsare also sometimes used, but they are difcult to handle and operate, andquite frequently the obstruction cannot be reached without digging atrench so as to expose the lateral and enable remo-val of a section ofthe pipe to permit the introduction of the rearning tool into the pipeat a point relatively close to the obstruction. This is a tedious andexpensive method, especially if any trench digging is necessary.

One of the Objects of my invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive device which is effective to open or clear clogged sewersystems of the type hereinbefore referred to, and which may be employe-dto accomplish the desired results without disturbing the plumbingconnections or requiring trench digging.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plunger-like devicewhich is adapted to be introduced into the vent pipe and/or the basementtrap pipe and reciprocated upwardly and downwardly so as to clear thesepipes and/ or the sewer lateral of obstructions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plunger devicefor use in the above mentioned manner, the plunger being of a unique andimproved construction whereby an effective and peculiar agitation actionis imparted to the waste water or fluid trapped in the system, whichaction tends to loosen the obstructing matter and eventually free thesame so that it will be carried off and discharged with the wasteliquid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plunger devicewhich, when reciprocated in the vent or basement trap pipe,co-ncentrates the pressure exerted by the plunger on successivelychanged areas of the waste fluid,

' whereby the latter is agitated with a variously changing motion duringcontinued reciprocation of the plunger.

The invention also contemplates a new method of freeing clogged sewersystems and the like, which method embraces generally the creation of aswirling or eddying motion of the liquid trapped in the system andchanging the swirling motio-n so as to be eiective in diierent portionsof the liquid to gradually loosen the obstructing matter.

Other and further objects and advantages of the inventioniwill behereinafter described and the novel features thereof defined by theapipended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View of a conventional plumbing installationfrequently employed for handling waste water and sewage in dwellings orother buildings, and illustrating the new meth- 0d of freeing the systemfrom obstructions tending to clog the same;

Fig. 2 is a detail View partly in section, of the 30 improved plungerdevice which has been developed to practice the new method herein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken approximately on the line 3 3 of Fig.2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail sectional view 35 further illustratingthe use of the improved plunger device.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawing.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, the waste or sewage system embodies a sewerlateral I, which, as shown, is usually buried in the ground beneath thebasement licor. This lateral extends from the building out to thestreet, where it connects with the usual sewer main (not shown). Withinthe building, and running vertically therethrough, is the soil pipe orstack 2, to which the waste lines of the usual plumbing xtures areconnected. lThe lower end of the stack or soil pipe is connected withthe sewer lateral l in any suitable manner, as for example, by means ofa Y coupling 3. At some point intermediate the building and the street,is located a vent pipe 4, the lower end of which is connected to thelateral I, and the upper end of which projects slightly above thesidewalk or street level. The vent 4 is usually provided with a guard orcover 5 of such construction that the upper end of the pipe is open toatmosphere. Adjacent the lower end of the vent pipe 4, is usuallylocated a running trap 6, having substantially the form as shown, andproviding a liquid seal at this point in the lateral I. When a basementtrap is employed, it is connected with the sewer lateral I, so that thestack 2 is disposed between the basement trap and the vent 4. Thebasement trap is designated "I, and embodies a P trap 8, the end ofwhich is connected to one branch of the Y coupling at the junction ofthe soil pipe or stack with the sewer lateral I. As shown, the basementtrap extends upwardly to the basement floor level, at which point it iso-pen to atmosphere.

Passing now to the device which has been developed for opening orclearing obstructions from the system described above, and referringparticularly to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the, device comprises anoperating rod or handle member 5 of suitable length, the lower end ofwhich carries a plunger-like head, generally designated I5. This head isof novel construction and includes a suitable abutment Ii, which mayhave the form of a nut threaded on the lower end of the operating member9. Next to the abutment I I is positioned a rigid bearing member I2having the form of a metal washer or disc. A ilexible sealing member I3is mounted on the operating member 9 below the bearing member I2, andthis sealing member is provided with a central opening I4, which openingis substantially larger than the end of the operating member forpurposes which will hereinafter become more apparent. The sealing memberor washer I3 is preferably made of leather, although the same may beformed from other materials, such as rubber, cork composition, or othersimilar materials of a suitable degree of exibility or yieldability.Associated with the sealing member I3 is a bearing member l5 whichcomprises a rigid disc-like washer having a size approximating the sizeoi the pipe into which the plunger device is to be introduced. For thebest results, this bearing member I5 is just slightly smaller than theinternal size o-f the pipe, and the same is provided with an opening I6substantially larger than the size oi the operating member, and throughwhich the operating member extends. Another bearing member or washerI'I, similar to bearing member I2, is mounted on the operating membernext to the member I5, and all of the bearing members and the sealingmember I3 are retained in position on the end of the operating member bymeans of a nut or cap I8 threaded onto the end of the operating member.In practice, the nut or cap I5 is screwed onto the operating member toan extent sufcient to exert a slight clamping pressure on the partsbetween the nut E8 and the abutment II. However, I prefer to keep thisclamping pressure very slight, so as to permit lateral movement of thesealing member I3 and the bearing member I5 respecting the operatingmember. Likewise, these latter parts are permitted to rotate on theoperating member.

As shown, the sealing member I3 is just slightly smaller in size thanthe bearing member I5, and in adjusting these parts to obtain thedesired results, the sealing member I3 is disposed slightly off centerso that it will project beyond the outer edge of the bearing member I5,as at I8. This adjustment is permitted by reason of the openings I4 andI 6. The eccentric or offcenter relation of the sealing member I3 andthe bearing member I5 establishes a laterally projecting sealing edgeextending for a distance about the plunger less than the totalcircumference of the same, and of course, less than the internalcircumference of the pipe into which the plunger device is introduced.

Passing now to the operation of the plunger device, when a stoppageoccurs in the sewer lateral, I have found that the same can be freed byintroducing the plunger-like device described above into the vent pipe4, as shown dotted in Fig. 1, and reciprocating the plunger headupwardly and. downwardly below the surface of the fluid trapped in thesystem. During the reciprocation, the projecting edge I9 of the sealingmember is kept against the inner wall of the pipe as much as possible.However, as the operating member is moved upwardly and downwardly, theksealing member I3 and the bearing member I5 will automatically shiftfrom time to time respecting the Operating member, this shiftingmovement including a rotating movement or a lateral movement, or both.In other words, by maintaining only a slight clamping pressure on theparts I2, I3, I5, and I'I, the parts I3 and I5 are free to move at willin the manner above described, and this movement takes placeautomatically and without any special attention of the operator. Duringthis movement, however, the eccentric or off-center adjustment of theparts I3 and I5 is maintained, as it has been found that the frictionbetween these members is sufficient to maintain the original eccentricadjustment even though the clamping action exerted on these parts isvery slight. By reason of the automatic rotation of the plunger-likehead, and/or the lateral shifting of the same, respecting the operatingmember, the position of the pressure application exerted on the trappedfluid is changed from time to time to different portions of the fluid,as the plunger-like device is reciprocated. This, together with the factthat the plunger head does not completely ll the pipe, creates apeculiar agitating motion in the iluid trapped in the system, whichmotion is in the nature of a swirling or eddying motion the posifperformed by a plunger which completely lls the pipe, and I have foundin actual practice that the improved construction described herein isconsiderably more efcient and will free obstructions which cannot becleared by a tight-tting plunger.

In Fig. 4, I have endeavored to illustrate by the arrows how the motionimparted to the trapped liquid by movement of the plunger head in adownward direction causes the liquid to impinge upon the obstructingaccumulation 20, reversing its motion, and this alternate impingementand reversal of the motion gradually loosens the obstructing matter asthe reciprocation of the plunger head takes place. It will be observedthat the cross sectional area of the trapped liquid w' concentratedtoward that side of the pipe against which the flexible sealing memberI3 bears, while the plunger head is slightly spaced from the oppositeside of the pipe, leaving the liquid free over a portion of thecross-sectional area thereof. The free area, being rather small, causesthe swirling or eddying motion of the liquid to attain a relatively highvelocity as the liquid passes back and forth between the plunger headand the portion of the pipe wall which is slightly spaced therefrom,thus contributing further to the effectiveness of the loosening actionof the liquid on the accumulated obstruction.

Since the plunger head is loosely mounted on the operating member orhandle, so as to be free to shift laterally or rotatively relative tothe handle, continued reciprocation of the head results in an automaticshifting of the position of the head and consequently an automaticchanging of the position of the pressure application on the liquid areaand a corresponding shifting of the swirling or eddying motion todifferent portions of the body of the liquid. This changing or varyingof the motion of the liquid just referred to materially contributes tothe effectiveness of the action of the plunger head so that theaccumulation is loosened or broken up gradually that is, a little at atime.

It is to be understood that the position of the obstruction oraccumulation 20, shown in Fig'. 4, has been illustrated only as oneexample of a typical stoppage in the system. Of course, the matter maycollect higher up in the vent pipe or the basement trap, as the case maybe, or somewhere in the lateral I itself, some distance from thejuncture of the vent pipe or the basement trap with the lateral.However, the action of the plunger head on the trapped uid and theVaction of the latter on the accumulated matter would be substantiallythe same as just described although the paths of the swirling oreddying'uid.

would be somewhat longer and possibly-more irregular than illustrated.

As hereinbefore stated, the plunger head is submerged below the level ofthe liquid in the vent pipe 4 and reciprocated upwardly and downwardlyuntilY the obstruction in the lateral is cleared. During the operation,the liquid level in the system will dro-p, and as this occurs, theplunger is lowered to keep the plunger-like head below the surface anduntil the clearing has been completely effected. Eventually, dislodgingof the obstructing matter will take place and the trapped fluid willpass out with a rushing motion, carrying with it the obstructing matterwhich has been loosened by the agitation effected by the plunger. Y l

In describing the above operation, reference has been made to thereciprocation of the plunger device in the vent pipe 4, but it isunderstood that its use is not confined to the vent pipe alone, assometimes the obstruction may be cleared by reciprocating the plunger inthe basement trap pipe 1. The particular location of the obstructionwill sometimes make it desirable to work the plunger in the sewer trappipe, but ordinarily, it has been found that the obstruction can becleared by working the same in the vent pipe.

The cap or nut I8 constitutes a protuberant part disposed in advance ofthe plunger head. Accordingly, as the plunger works closer and Vcloserto the bottom of the vent pipe or the basement trap pipe, theprotuberant part will strike bottom first and minimize the likelihood ofdamaging the plungerv head. Also the protuberance may be used to breakup or dislodge the obstructions which may be directly reached by theplunger, and without damaging the plunger head, as might be the casewhere the head was located at the extreme lower end of the operatingmember.

While the specific details of construction have been herein shown anddescribed, the invention is not confined thereto, as changes andalterations may be made Without departing from the spirit thereof asdefined by the appended claims.

Having thus -described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A plunger adapted for reciprocation within `a pipe of a sewer systemor the like to dislodge matter clogging the same, said plungercomprising an operating rod, a plunger head carried by said operatingrod adjacent one end thereof and including a rigid disc-like memberhaving a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the pipe,and aflexible sealing member adjacent saidl rigid disc-like member, saidflexible member projecting laterally slightly beyond said rigiddisc-like member for a fractional part of the circumferential distanceonly about the latter.

2. A plunger adapted for reciprocation within a pipe of a sewer systemor the like to dislodge matter clogging the same, said plungercomprising a handle member, a plunger head carried by said handle memberadjacent one end thereof and including a rigid disc-like member having adiameter slightly less than the internal dlameter of the pipe, and aflexible sealing member adjacent said rigid disc-like member, saidflexible member projecting laterally slightly beyond said rigiddisc-like member for a fractional part of the circumferential Vdistanceabout the latter, said rigid member and'flexible member being looselymounted on the handle member so as to afford relative movement betweenthe handle member and the other members in a plane generally transverseto the handle.

3. A plunger adapted for reciprocation within a pipe of a sewer systemor the like to dislodge matter clogging the same, said plungercomprising a handle member, a plunger head carried by said handle memberadjacent one end thereof and including a rigid disc-like member having adiameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the pipe, and aflexible sealing member adjacent said rigid disc-like member, saidilexible member projecting laterally slightly beyond said rigiddisc-like member for a fractional part of the circumferential distanceabout the latter, said rigid member and flexible member being looselymounted on the handle member so as to afford relative rotative movementbetween the handle member and the other members.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a handle member having anabutment shoulder adjacent one end, a rigid bearing member carried Y ahandle member having an abutment shoulder adjacent one end, a rigidbearing member carried by said handle member and abutting said lshoulder, a second rigid bearing member having a substantially largerbearing surface than the iirst bearing member, a flexible memberinterposed between said bearing members and extending beyond the edge ofsaid second bearing member at one side thereof only, and means coactingwith said abutment shoulder for exerting a limited clamping pressure onsaid bearing members and flexible member, said last mentioned meansconstituting a protuberant extension on the side of said bearing andflexible members opposite to the handle member.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a handle member having anabutment shoulder adjacent one end, a rigid disc-like bearing membercarried by said handle member and abutting said shoulder, a second rigiddisc-like bearing member having a substantially larger bearing surfacethan the iirst mentioned bearing member and of a diameter slightly lessthan the internal diameter of the usual sewer lateral vent pipe, saidlatter bearing member being carried by said handle member so as topermit lateral movement of the same respecting the said handle member,a. flexible disc-like member interposed between said bearing members anddisposed eccentrically respecting said second mentioned bearing memberso as to project slightly beyond the edge of the latter for a distancethereabout which is less than the total circumferential distance aroundthe same, and also mounted so as to permit lateral `movement of the samerespecting the handle member, and means coacting with the abutmentshoulder for exerting a limited clamping pressure on said bearingmembers and flexible member.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a handle member having anabutment shoulder adjacent one end, a rigid disc-likey bearing membercarried by said handle member and abutting said shoulder, a second rigiddisc-like bearing member having a substantially larger bearing surfacethan the rst mentioned bearing member and of a diameter slightly lessthan the internal diameter of the usual sewer lateral vent pipe, saidlatter bearing member being carried by said handle member so as topermit lateral movement of the same respecting the said handle member, aflexible disc-like member interposed between said bearing members anddisposed eccentrically respecting said second mentioned bearing memberso as to project slightly beyond the edge of the latter for a distancethereabout which is less than substantially one-half of the totalcircumferential distance around the same, and also mounted so as topermit lateral movement of the same respecting the handle member, andmeans coacting with the abutment shoulder for exerting a limitedclamping pressure on said bearing members and flexible member.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a handle member having anabutment shoulder adjacent one end, a rigid disclike bearing membercarried by said handle member and abutting said shoulder, a second rigiddisc-like bearing member having a substantially larg-er bearing surfacethan the rst mentioned bearing member and of a diameter slightly lessthan the internal diameter of the usual sewer lateral vent pipe, saidlatter bearing member being carried by said handle member so as topermit lateral movement of the same respecting the said handle member, aexible disc-like member interposed between said bearing members anddisposed eccentrically respecting said second mentioned bearing memberso as to project slightly beyond the edge of the latter for a distancethereabout which is less than the total circumferential distance aroundthe same, said iiexible member being mounted on said operating member soas to permit lateral movement of the same respecting said handle member,and means coacting with said abutment shoulder for exerting a clampingpressure on said second bearing member and flexible member sufiicient tomaintain the eccentric relation between the flexible member and saidsecond mentiond bearing member while permitting lateral movement of eachof the same during reciprocation of the device Within the pipeaforesaid.

9, The method of clearing a clogged sewer pipe containing an appreciablebody of liquid trapped in the area to be cleared, comprising applyingaxial pressure in one direction to an appreciable cross-sectional areaonly of the trapped liquid,

whereby a portion of said liquid moves in that general direction andsome of the liquid also moves generally in the reverse direction in theother portion of the cross-sectional area, so that a swirling or eddyingmotion of the liquid, impinging on the obstruction, is produced.

l0. The method o1 clearing a clogged sewer pipe containing anappreciable body of liquid trapped in the area to be cleared, comprisingalternately applying axial pressure in rapidly reversed directions to anappreciable cross-sectional area only of the trapped liquid, whereby aportion of said liquid moves in that general direction, and some of theliquid also moves generally in the reverse direction in the otherportion of the cross-sectional area, so that a swirling or eddyingmotion of the liquid, impinging on the obstruction, is produced.

l1. The method of clearing a clogged sewer pipe containing anappreciable body of liquid trapped in the area to be cleared, comprisingapplying axial pressure in one direction to an appreciablecross-sectional area only of the trapped liquid, whereby a portion ofsaid liquid moves in that general direction, and some of the liquid alsomoves generally in the reverse direction in the other portion of thecross-sectional area, so that a swirling or eddying motion of theliquid, impinging on the obstruction, is produced, and varying theposition of the pressure application aforesaid on the cross-sectionalarea of the trapped liquid around 4the pipe.

l2. The method of clearing a clogged sewer pipe containing anappreciable body of liquid trapped in the area to be cleared, comprisingapplying axial pressure in one direction to an appreciablecross-sectional area only of the liquid, while leaving a relativelysmall area of the liquid free, whereby a portion of said liquid moves inthat general direction and some of the liquid also moves generaliy inthe reverse direction in the free portion of the cross-sectional areaand at a relatively high velocity so that a swirling or eddying motion,impinging on the obstruction, is produced.

RAYMOND C. GANNON.

